Discernment Is Required - Acts 14:1-7

Paul and Barnabas Rejected at Iconium (Acts 14:1-7)

Growing up, music was a huge part of our life.

Singing in church, singing in the car, the kitchen, the shower, pretty much anytime.

There are a lot of songs I hear now that immediately transport me back to my childhood.

One particular song puts me right back in my Grandpa’s house with him sitting in his chair playing his guitar.

“You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, you got to know when to run.”

This song came to my mind as I looked at this passage of Scripture today.

Paul and Barnabas were sent out as missionaries by the Holy Spirit in Acts 13.

They have had great responses to the gospel with people being saved, and they have had opposition that resulted in them leaving certain areas.

Here in chapter 14, they once again face both acceptance and rejection, belief, and opposition.

Look at verse 1.

Acts 14:1 ESV

1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.

This is such a powerful verse!

How we share the gospel matters!

Our passion and the words we use matter.

Now, this isn’t to say that if we use the wrong words people won’t get saved. God, through the Holy Spirit, convicts and draws people to Himself.

What this does mean is that as we practice and develop our personal method of sharing the gospel, we will get better and better at it.

God has chosen to reach people with the gospel through you and I.

Paul and Barnabas share the gospel, some believe, and some oppose.

Look at v. 2.

Acts 14:2 ESV

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

Here again, they face opposition.

Last time there was opposition, they left. This time their response is different.

Look at v. 3

Acts 14:3 ESV

3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

This is where discernment is required!

Discernment comes through dependence on the Holy Spirit and a sensitivity to His leading.

Instead of moving on, they stay for a long time speaking boldly!

God works miracles through them to confirm that their message is His message.

Sometimes when we face opposition to the gospel our best response is to move on, other times we need to stay put and share boldly!

Discernment is required for us to know the difference.

In verse 4 we are told that the city becomes divided. Some side with the apostles, some with their opposition.

In verse 5 there is an attempt to mistreat and kill them so in v. 6 they leave and go to another city.

Again we see discernment being exercised.

There is a threat to their lives, so they move on.

Now, some may be tempted to give up gospel preaching when you almost die for it.

From a strictly human standpoint, that is kind of reasonable.

If doing an activity may lead to my death, maybe I should stop doing that!

As believers our faith is in the Sovereign God of the Universe.

Sometimes He calls us to do things that don’t make sense to our human thinking, but in His divine plan they are the right choices.

That’s what we see in verse 7.

Acts 14:7 ESV

7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Preaching the gospel almost got them killed in one city, so they flee to a new area, and keep on preaching.

Discernment is required to know when to leave one area and move on to another.

Faithfulness requires that we keep preaching Christ as long as we have breath.

Discernment is produced by the Holy Spirit.

We cannot have discernment if we are not walking in obedience to the Lord, spending time in His Word, in prayer, and with His people.

Do those things and you will be led by the Spirit.

Then, we share the gospel and move on or stay put at His direction.

That’s our challenge today: Be filled with the Spirit and preach the gospel with discernment.